I began my day by meeting a constituent in the Kitchen Table Café on the Barking Road. He is currently studying Economics at University and is interested in a career in Finance. We spoke about the current economic climate and about the action the Government has taken to ensure that the recession was not as deep and as long as those previously experienced in the UK.

I then travelled to Brampton Manor School where I met with the Headteacher, Dr Olukoshi and Deputy Head, Peter Whittle. We discussed their long terms plan for the school and how we could build on their record breaking GCSE results.  We also talked about how we can provide higher standards of education to all the young people in Newham. Whilst there I was shown around their new state of the art theatre and dance studio which have been built as part of the Government’s Building Schools for the Future programme.

Afterwards, I visited Brampton Primary School and met with a number of children who sit on the School Council. I told them what it was like to be an MP and offered to organise a tour of Parliament for them in the near future. I then gave out prizes to the winners of a writing competition which was set over the Christmas holidays. I sat with some of the children and read some of their stories, all of which were to a high standard.

After a brief lunch, I went to Little Ilford School. There, I met with two Teach First graduates who have been placed there. (In 2001, I helped set up the Teach First Programme whilst Schools Minister at the then Department of Education and Skills.) Both teachers spoke of their positive experiences of teaching at Little Ilford and from speaking to other teachers and pupils, it is clear they are a great asset to the school. As it was Teach First Week, I was duly invited to teach a maths lesson! I used my experience as a Treasury Minister to introduce the pupils to taxation. The students were required to work through a number of problems, for example, calculating the amount of corporation tax firms should pay on their profits. I am happy to report they all did well.

Later, I met with the Board of Unitas Communications, a public relations business based in Stratford. Unitas liaise with many corporate and NGO leaders in the Western and Arab world - it was very interesting to have an update on their work.

I then met with Chris Mandl, the new Chief Executive of Landmark Training in Stratford. We discussed the current work of the organisation and how it has helped so many young people in Newham over the past few years. The meeting was extremely positive and it was exciting to hear of what Landmark are planning in the future.

I ended my day by going to surprise party to celebrate Nigel Kershaw, the Chief Exective of the Big Issue, and a good friend of mine, being awarded an OBE. It is certainly well deserved and was a fitting way to end the day.